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To welcome their 60 guests to their March 16, 2019, destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico, Katie and Nick kicked off the weekend with a party on the beach. With their toes in the sand, guests noshed on delicious Mexican fare, sipped craft cocktails, and enjoyed décor that teased the color palette of the big day still to come: pops of pink with plenty of white to spare.

A highlight, Katie says, is when her friends secretly produced a video to be shown at the party. In the video, the friends recorded their wishes and advice for the couple. "Laura [of Grit & Grace] managed to get a TV set up on the beach, so the whole party could be surprised with the personal video montage," Katie says. "It was epic!" But for Nick, the best moments were those before the guests had arrived. He loved "seeing the space…and sharing an intimate moment with Katie," the groom explains.

As for the bride's favorite décor moment? She "loved the fire pit, which was a last-minute addition. It was great to have a central space for everyone to be together," she says.

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In the Sand

The couple held their welcome party on the beach of Nizuc Resort and Spa, where their wedding would take place the following day. As for the party's décor? "We incorporated pops of pink throughout the event to keep the theme consistent," Katie explains, when asked how this pre-wedding event's decorations connected to the main celebration's.

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Taco Central

Katie and Nick offered up Mexican fare during the party: A taco station and churros, which were served with caramel or chocolate dipping sauces. The taco part of the menu was built into the décor landscape—marquis letters spelling out the traditional dish were placed just in front of the fire pit.

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Minimal Décor

The couple set up seating areas with rentals from Canteiro Weddings, choosing long white tables and poufs for seating—and that's it. "We actually did not have any flowers," Katie says of the décor. "We wanted it to be very minimalist and chic.